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BALTIMORE - In a match that was rescheduled for Tuesday morning due to lightning delays the night before, Monmouth University returned to Ridley Athletic Complex and defeated the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team, 2-0.

Loyola falls to 0-2-0 in the season, while the Hawks improve to 2-0-0 in the first week of action.

Within a two-and-a-half minute period, Monmouth created five scoring opportunities, finding the back of the net in the 17th minute. Sophie Centi struck a long cross to the center of the box, where Erica Murphy headed the pass into the back-right corner of the goal.

During the same time period, graduate student Colleen Folan made five saves, tacking on a diving save in the 38th minute.

"Colleen was excellent for us, particularly in the first half," head coach Naomi Meiburger said. "She really kept us in the game during crucial moments."

Monmouth added an insurance goal in the 63rd minute, as Rachael Ivanicki chipped a shot into the box and over the head of Folan.

Despite Monmouth's second half goal, Loyola showed offensive resilience in the final 45 minutes, recording six of the team's 11 total shots.

"Monmouth is a good team and we knew that going into today's game," Meiburger said. "I think in the first half Monmouth was the better team and deserved the goal, but we were unlucky in the second half. The girls played hard and showed they were the better team in the final 45 minutes. The team we were in the second half is the team we need to be all season."

The Greyhounds dominated 50/50 balls in the first 15 minutes of the second stanza, creating a number of scoring opportunities, including sophomore Alyssa Bonnesen's header attempt just 42 second following the conclusion halftime.

Loyola had four freshmen make their debuts as Greyhounds in the game, including Lexy Andrews, Sarah Ensor, Cassidy Griffith and Jourdan Ziff.

The Greyhounds return to action on Friday, Aug. 28, taking on Temple University, a team that is ranked 10th in the Northeast Region of the National Soccer Coaches Association Poll. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., at the Owls' Ambler Sports Complex in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.